“Regretfully, I must cancel my appearance on the Alibaba Double 11 due to a family emergency. I am very sorry to disappoint my fans and look forward to seeing you in China soon,” Perry wrote on her verified account on the Chinese social site Weibo.

Alibaba organizers responded, “Alibaba and all her fans in China are naturally very disappointed. We would like to send Katy our best wishes at this difficult time, and hope that we can see her in China soon.”

Perry was scheduled to appear as the “global ambassador,” alongside OneRepublic, Kobe Bryant and Chinese girl band SNH48. David Beckham has taken Perry’s place as “ambassador.” The event kicks off the country’s biggest online shopping day of the year.